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Perhaps it speaks to my quirkiness that from the body of speakers and content presented this week, I am stuck on Pat Bassett’s youtube of a half-naked dancing man and his equally awkward first follower starting a dance movement. I love how that video so directly demonstrated the power of the first follower in helping a movement evolve and grow. As the narrator said, “The first follower is an underappreciated form of leadership. The first follower transforms a lone nut into a leader.”

The beautiful brick and clapboard buildings of Tilton’s green campus and the mild New Hampshire summer weather may have you thinking that ISANNELEADS is a vacation. Don’t fool yourself; this is no vacation. The gilded ceilings and fine millwork of our meeting space gives you a sense of comfort as you slip into your chair and prepare to learn about leadership, but this comfort is fleeting. This week is designed to make you uncomfortable, or rather make you comfortable with being uncomfortable. Contrary to the selfless nature of educators, this is a week about you.

I had no idea what to expect out of this week at ISANNELEADS. The (intentional) lack of communication about schedules and agendas didn't help. I expect that a number of posts have started like this and that I'm not alone in experiencing that pre-conference anxiety.

I was not sure what to expect from this conference. Who was going to be there? What were we going to do? Would it be another one of those conferences that I felt was a waste of time? Well the answer to the last question is definitely NO (thankfully since my school has invested the money to send me here). The topics covered by the presenters are very well-thought out and diverse. Today was the half-way point and Hans Mundahl came this morning and gave a memorable presentation on ideas. Really interesting topics on important work vs.

My mind has been stuck on this question posed to me, “What will be your legacy?” For a day and a half, I have been trying to form my personal mission statement. In honesty, this has been one of the hardest assignments I’ve ever had. What do I want? What is most important to me? Where do I see myself? What qualities do I possess and what qualities do I want to possess?

Well after two informational packed days HUMP day has arrived here at IsanneLeads and there is no better way to start it than with Hans Mundahl. His energy was through the the roof and the topic of "where do new ideas come from?" was thought provoking. From "rabbit holes" to break out sessions he has us thinking outside the box and challenged us to do so going forward.

This week has really helped drive home the importance of thinking big, thinking forward, and facilitating the opportunity for those I serve in leadership to do the same. Pat Bassett’s presentations on “the big shifts in making education more current” gave some great resources and ideas for the tools and practices that I should be looking to use in making the necessary big shifts at my school, many of which are already being discussed and experimented with at our school.

This morning our ISANNELEADS group learned from Hans Mundahl, President of Hans Mundahl and Associates. Hans focused his lesson on where new ideas come from and with so, drew on 5 facets that when combined, make, creative thoughtful leaders. These 5 facets are, focusing, making, connecting, publishing and failing.

As I reflect on the past 2 ½ days at ISANNELEADS, I can truly say that I feel blessed. Blessed to be here in this place, with these people, in this time, and at this point of my career. As I drove home yesterday, I couldn’t help but think about how transformative this process has been.